Printing apparatus



July 5, 1960 H. l. DREWETT PRINTING APPARATUS #may Filed July 22, 1953July 5, 1960 H. l. DREwl-:TT 2,943,553

PRINTING APPARATUS H. l. DREWETT PRINTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 yHarold I Dwezve,

y vney July 5, 1960 Filed July 22. 1953 July 5, 1960 H. l. DREwETTPRINTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 22, 1953 July 5, 1960 H.l. DREWETT 2,943,553

PRINTING APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Havozd zaiewe,

July 5, 1960 H. DREWETT PRINTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July22,' 1953 IzvezaoH: Haado I Baiewef, y

United States Patent O PRINTING APPARATUS Hamid I. Dreweff, R.F.D. z,warren, Maine Filed July zz, 1953, ser. Nu. 369,658

12 claims. (cl. 95-75) This invention relates to apparatus for use insimultaneously making on a sheet of printing paper a plurality ofcontact prints from strip, roll, and sheet film.

The objectives of the present invention may be most readily appreciatedby considering that, particularly in the case of so-called miniatures,the photographer needs to have, for filing or display purposes, someconvenient means by which prints are available for reference or for usein determining the relative merits of the several pictures of a fdrn as,for example, when selections for enlargements are to be made. An albumon each of whose sheets all the pictures of at least one film areprinted affords such convenience. By way of illustration, a sheet ofphotographic paper may have printed thereon all of the pictures of two2O exposure 35 mm. lms, one 36 exposure 35 mm. iilm, twelve picturesfrom any 120 or 620, 21A x 21A reflex size, eight pictures of 21A x 3%size, or fifteen or more pictures of the full 127 size. 'I'he apparatusmay also be adapted for use with other films of which aerial roll filmis but one example.

This invention thus has, as a principal objective, the provision ofapparatus to enable such contact prints to be made quickly, easily, andaccurately while permitting the lm to be kept in the interconnected formin which it was developed to provide maximum convenience in storage.Another principal objective is the production of attractive prints eachcontaining a plurality of pictures with each being surrounded by a whiteborder, excluding unwanted perforated edges for example, thus to aiordmaximum attractiveness in sheet form and enabling the individualpictures, if the sheet is cut, to be produced at substantial savingsover those individually printed. Another objective is to combine withthe advantages of simultaneously printing a plurality of pictures, meansto enable the printing of those pictures to be individually timed asrequired to ensure best results.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a base having asupporting surface for the photographic paper and a lm holder comprisinga first frame member dimensioned to receive a predetermined number ofinterconnected negatives, each of a certain width and length and tomaintain that lm in a predetermined position relative to the sheet. Thelm holder also includes means to mark the margins of the framed film andthe space between each of its negatives and consisting of a transparentmember which has portions to mark at least those spaces and a pressuremember usually in the form of a second frame within and verticallymovable relative to the first frame and in engagement with the marginsof the transparent member. The apparatus also is provided with means topress the film and the sheet firmly and. evenly against said surface ofthe base.

The apparatus may be made to print a single row of pictures on a sheetdimensioned for the printing of a plurality of rows of pictures in whichcase, its position is shifted to establish successive rows with meansbeing provided to enable its various positions to be accurately locatedto provide the desired spacing between the rows and with means alsobeing provided to enable the remaining portion or portions of the sheetto be masked during the printing of the negatives exposed in the lmcarrier. The film holder may, however, be constructed to enable aplurality of rows of pictures to be simultaneously printed.

The film holders are also preferably provided with removable maskingelements which are adapted to be used when variations in the exposuretime of one or more of the pictures being printed are indicated.

In the accompanying drawings, there are shown illustrative embodimentsof the invention from which these and other of its objectives, novelfeatures, and advantages will be readily apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of apparatus, in accordance with theinvention, for use in contact printing successively rows of picturesfrom strip or roll film, with the unexposed paper being masked;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the position of the film holderchanged on the base and showing the masking of exposed and unexposedpaper and the masking of negatives requiring different exposure times;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the holder on an enlarged scale;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections, on the scale of Fig. 3, taken respectivelyalong the indicated lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 and 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the film holder with its parts shown inperspective;

Fig. 7 is a view, generally similar to Fig. 2, illustrating apparatusfor use in printing lm of a larger size;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, similar to Fig. 1, of an embodiment of theinvention adapted for use in simultaneously printing a plurality of rowsof pictures and is particularly adapted for use in the printing of cutfilm or film packs;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section, on an increased scale, taken along theindicated lines 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig 10 is a section taken along the indicated lines 10- 10 of Fig. 8;and

Fig. 1l is an exploded view of the lm holder with the parts being shownin elevation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-7, a base 15 isshown as having legs 1'6 and its upper face provided with a felt orother suitable coat 17 and with a flanged holder 18 disposed to receivethe ends of the printing paper 19 thus to hold it in place `and toprevent its curling.

Adjacent each side of the felt coat 17 there are two series of holes 20and 21 with the corresponding holes of each series being transverselyalined and with a greater distance, both transversely andlongitudinally, separating the holes 21 than separates the holes 20.

At 22, in Figs. l-5, there is generally indicated a film holder for use,say, with 35 mm. film. As this is identical in construction to the filmholder 23 of Fig. 7, the holder 23 will not be completely detailed,except as to illustrate means for printing larger film, say or 620 film.

The iilm holder Z2 includes a film carrier 24 in the form of arectangular frame of suiiicient length to extend approximately from`side to side of the paper 19 and whose sides are preferably slottedalong their inner edges as at (see Fig. 6) to slidably receive the edgesof the strip of film 26 and along their outer edges as at 27 to receivethe masking sheets 28. The ends of the carrier 24 carry depending pegsor pins 29 to enter the holes of the series 20.

The film holder 22 also includes means for masking the margins of thefilm 26 and the spaces between its negatives. These means comprise atransparent member 30 dimens-ioned to fit within the carrier 24 andincluding portions 31 (see iFig. 6) tornask those spaces. The member 30may also be marginally masked as at 32. Such masking portions may beeffectedV in, any suitable manner depending on the4 material, from whichthe member 30 is made but is shown, for convenience,y as beingaccomplishedl by tapes.

The masking means also include a pressure member- 33 incorporated in thefilm holder for vertical movement relative to thefilm carrier 24 inorder that it may function to press the film firmly against the sheet19. The member 33 is shown as being dimensioned to o'verlie a part ofthe lm carrier 24 and as having a rabbet 34 along its inner edges (seeFigs. 4 and 6). The pressure member 33 includes a depending flangeestablishing a second frame 35 entrant of the first frame or filmcarrier 24. The members 30 and 33 may be separable or comprise a unitbut the second frame 35 is shown4 as being marginally rabbeted as at 36to receive the margins ofthe member 30.

It will thus be apparent that the, pressure member 33 is movable in avertical direction relativeto the film carrier 24 while cooperatingtherewith to prevent light from passing between the two frames. Withreference to Figs. 4 and 6, it will be noted that the flanges on secondframe 35 are tapered as at 37 to ensure proper light distribution andthat the iianges on second frame 35 also function as means marginallymasking the negatives, disposed in the areaway they define.

As illustrative of means for applying pressure to the members 30, 33,there are shown U-shaped tension clamps 38v so curved that their closedends may engage grooves 39 in end parts of the pressure member 33 (shownin Fig. 6) and their free ends be caught against the under surface ofthe base 15 thus to provide means for pressing the film 26 andthe paper19 smoothly against the upper coated surface of thev base.

With the apparatus above described and with reference to Fig. 1, it willbe noted that the film holder 22 is disposed transversely of thephotographic paper sheet 19 adjacent one end thereof with its pins 29entrant 0f the appropriate holes of the series 20. Film 26 is slidablysupported by the grooves 25 of the film carrier 24 and is pressedagainst the paper 19 by means of the clamps 38 pressing the transparentmember 30 and `its pressure applying member 33 downwardly as a unit. Amasking sheet 28 is inserted in a groove 27 of the carrier 24 to maskthe remainder of the sheet 19.

After the film in the film holder 22 has been exposed, the film holderis moved to the next pair of transversely alined pair of holes of theseries 20 and the film 26 is advanced to bring a new group of negativesinto the areaway defined by the second frame 35. The clamps 38 are putlin place and a masking sheet 28 is inserted in the other groove 27 tomask the exposed part of the sheet 19 as will be apparent from Fig. 2.This process is repeated until the sheet has all the pictures of atleast one film printed thereon.

With reference toFig. 7, the film holder 23 is identical to the filmholder 22 except for different dimensions as has already been noted.These differences are reiiected in the pins 40 of its film carrier 41being so located as to be insertable in any one of the transverselyalined holes of the series 21 and the masking portions 42 and 43 of itsmasking means being located as dictated by the size of the negatives ofthe film 44.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8-11, the film holder,generally indicated at 45, is shown as adapted for use with the base 15and as comprising a rectangular film carrier or frame 46 of a size andshape to overlie the margins of the sheet 19. One opposite pair of framesides is interconnected by a pair of parallel partitions 47 spacedequally from each other and from the other pair of frame sides which andthe partitions 47 are provided with grooves 48 and 49 (see Fig. 1l).Proximate grooves which are disposed towards each other definepassageways marginally supporting the film 50 while the outwardlydisposed grooves on said frame sides receive the fianged holders 118-.thereby to connect it to the base 15.

The film holder-45 also includes masking means shown as consisting 0ftransparent' members, 5.1 one for each film passageway, and these areshown as suitably masked as at 52 and 531 to provide the desired.framing of the prints, it being understood that the masking of thespaces between negatives is one of the essential functions of themembers 51.

The pressure member, generally indicated at 54, is rectangular in formand includes sides 55 and partitions 56 located and dimensionsd tooverlie the corresponding parts ofthe film carrier 46. The inner edgesof the sides 55 and both edges of. the partitions 56 are formed withrabbets 57 and preferably all such parts include depending flanges 5Sestablishing second frames each engageable with the margins of arespective one of the several transparent members 51. In the case of thepartition members 56, the fianges 58 establish a recess 59 receptive ofthe partitions 47 of the film carrier 46. 1t will be apparent that theconstruction of the film carrier 46 and the pressure member 53 block thepassage of light between the frames. The fianges or second frames 58 areshown as rabbeted as at 60 to receive the transparent members 5.1 whichmay be secured thereto but obviously the members S1 may be made as anintegral part of the pressure member 54. As in thev case of the filmholders 22 and 23, the transparentmembersl define areaways in which thefilm is exposed and the marginal masking of the film may be effectedsolely by the flange 5S or second frame.

In this embodiment ofk the invention, the clamping means, generallyindicated `at 6i, are secured to the base 15. Suchclamping means mayconveniently comprise a U-shaped' part 62 having its free ends connectedto hinges 63 secured to the under surface of the base 15. A secondU-shaped part, 64 has loops 65 in its free ends whose extremitiesencircle the closed end of the part 62. A third member 66 has its freeends entrant of theV loops 65 while its4 closed end' is engageable withthe end portions ofthe pressureV plate 54 being provided' with a bearing67 engageable therewith.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 8-ll is particularly well adapted' for usewith cut film and film pack negatives. In practise, the film holder islocatedV on the base 15 with film in all ofthe passageways of its filmcarrier. With the clamping means 61 applied, the film is firmly pressedagainst the paper so that the entire sheet of photographic paper may. beprinted at one time.

It will be appreciated that in any exposed film, there may be one or;more negativesl that are more or less under. or overex-posed and thatcorrection' can be made during the printing thereof by appropriatelyvar-.ying the exposure time.

In each embodiment, there are preferably two types of these elements.Thel first of' these is; represented bythe elements 68y of Figs. 2and-,5 and the elements 69 of Figs. 8 and 9'. These differ one from theother only as to dimensions as occasioned by the various sizes ofk film.For example, each of the elements 69 has its base dimensioned to overlieany negative of the film 50 with its-ends 70 being upwardly inclinedtowards eachother withJ its Upper part having shoulders 71 eng-ageablewith the rabbets 57 of the pressure member. In practise, an element,such as that shown at 72 in Fig. 6, is employed to mask the negatives atthe end of the areaways. The element 72 has one end 73 upwardly inclinedtowards the other end thereof while its upper part has shoulders 74projecting from the other sides thereof for engagement with the rabbets57.

In practise and assuming that a negative is overexposed so that theprinting time must be decreased for correction, as masking element isdropped in place at the end of the corrected exposure time thus enablingthe printing of the remaining pictures to be continued as required bythem.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention provides forthe simultaneous printing of a plurality of pictures on a sheet ofphotographic paper on a basis that ensures the attractive framing andspacing of the pictures while making it possible to vary the exposuretime of the negatives individually as may be required.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length o-f film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit at least one row of prints of that length to beprinted thereon, la base on whose upper surface the sheet rests and towhich it is anchored, a film holder including a first frame memberdisposed on said sheet and anchored to said base in loose engagementwith the edges of the film to define a slideway therefor and dimensionedto expose within it said length of film, and means to mask the marginsof the framed film and the space between each of its negatives toprovide a white frame for each of the pictures printed on said sheet,said means including a transparent film contacting member provided withportions effecting at least the masking of said spaces and a pressuremember in engagement with the margins of said transparent member, saidpressure member being in the form of a second frame within said firstframe 4and vertically movable relative thereto and in light-tightrelation therewith, and means to connect said pressure member to saidbase to press said film against said sheet.

2. In apparatus for use in simultaneous contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit at least one row of prints of that length to beprinted thereon, `a base on whose upper surface the sheet rests and towhich it is anchored, a film holder including a first frame memberdisposed on said sheet and anchored to said base in loose engagementwith the edges of the film to define a slideway therefor and dimensionedto expose within it said length of film, and means to mask the marginsof the framed film and the space between each of its negatives toprovide a white frame for each of the pictures printed on said sheet,said means including la transparent film contacting member provided withportions effecting at least the masking of said spaces and a pressuremember in engagement with the margins of said transparent member, saidpressure member being in the form of a second frame within said firstframe and vertically movable relative thereto, said frames includingcomplemental overlapping portions cooperating to block the passage `oflight therebetween, and means to connect said pressure member to saidbase to effect the pressing of said film against said sheet.

3. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit at least one row of prints of that length to beprinted thereon, a base on whose upper surface the sheet rests and towhich it is anchored, a film holder including a first frame memberdisposed on said sheet and anchored to said base and includingoppositely disposed channels to slidably receive the edges of the filmand dimensioned to expose within it said length of film, and means tomask the margins of the framed film and the space between each of itsnegatives to provide a white frame for each of the pictures printed onsaid sheet, said means including a transparent film contacting member,provided with portions effecting at least the masking of said spaces anda pressure member in engagement with the margins of said transparentmember, said pressure member being in the form of a second frame withinsaid first frame and vertically movable relative thereto and inlight-tight relation therewith, and means to connect said pressuremember to said base to effect the pressing of said film against saidsheet.

4. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit a plurality of rows of prints, each of that lengthto be printed simultaneously thereon, a base on whose upper surface thesheet rests and to which it is anchored, a film holder including a firstframe member on said sheet and anchored to said base, said first framemember being sub-divided to provide `a plurality of areaways, one foreach length of film to be printed and in which said film is marginallyengaged, and means to mask the margins of the framed films and the spacebetween each of their negatives to provide a White frame `for each ofthe pictures printed on said sheet, said means including transparentfilm contacting members, one for each areaway and provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces, and a pressure memberincluding a plurality of second frames one for each areaway inengagement with the margins of said transparent member, said pressuremember being vertically movable relative to said first frame inlight-tight relation therewith, and means to connect said pressuremember to said base to press said film against said sheet.

5. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit a plurality of rows `of prints, each of thatlength to be printed simultaneously thereon, a base on whose uppersurface the sheet rests, and including a pair of flanges disposedtowards each other and located to engage with opposite margins of saidsheet, a film holder including a first frame member on said sheet andsub-divided to provide a plurality of areaways, one for each length offilm to be printed land in which said film is marginally engaged, onepair of frame sides having grooves located to receive said flanges, andmeans to mask the margins of the framed films and the space betweeneachl of their negatives to provide ya white frame for each of thepictures printed on said sheet, said means including transparent filmcontacting members, one for each areaway and provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces and a pressure memberincluding a plurality of second frames one for each areaway inengagement with the margins of said transparent member, said pressuremember being vertically movable relative to said first frame -and inlight-tight relation therewith, and means to connect said pressuremember to said base to press said film against said sheet.

6. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit a plurality of ro'ws of prints, each of thatlength to be printed simultaneously thereon, a base on whose uppersurface the sheet rests and to which it is anchored, a film holderincluding a first frame member on said sheet and anchored to said base,said first frame member being subdivided to provide a plurality ofareaways, one for each length of film to be printed, corresponding wallsof the frame having grooves on opposite sides of each areaway to receivethe edges of the film, and in which said film is marginally engaged, andmeans to mask the margins of the framed films and the space between eachof their negatives to provide a white frame for each of the picturesprinted on said sheet, said means including transparent film contactingmembers, one for each areaway and provided with portions effecting atleast the masking of said spaces, and a pressure member including aplurality of second frames one for each areaway in engagement with vthemargins of said transparent member, said pressure member beingvertically movable relative to said first frame in light-tight relationtherewith, and means to connect said pressure member to said base topress said film against said sheet.

7. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length o'f film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit a plurality of rows of prints, each of that lengthto be printed simultaneously thereon, a base on whose upper surface thesheet rests and to which it is anchored, a film holder including a firstframe member on said sheet and anchored to said base, said first framemember being subdivided to provide a plurality of areaways, one for eachlength of film to be printed and in which said film is marginallyengaged, said frame member having a rabbet marginally of each areaway,and means to mask the margins of the framed films and the space betweeneach of their negatives to provide a white frame for each of thepictures printed on said sheet, said means including transparent filmcontacting members, one for each areaway and provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces, and a pressure memberincluding a plurality of second frames one for each areaway inengagement with the margins of said transparent member, said pressuremember being vertically movable relative to said first frame, andincluding shoulders cooperating with the rabbets of the first frame toblock the passage of light therebetween, and means to connect saidpressure member to said base to press said film against said sheet.

8. In apparatus fo'r use in simultaneously contact printing thenegatives of a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographicpaper dimensioned to permit rows of prints of that length to be printedsuccessively thereon, said film being in either of two widths, a base onwhose upper surface the sheet rests, a film holder for each Width offilm and including a first frame member disposed on said sheet inengagement with the edges of the film and dimensioned to expose withinit said length of film, each holder including a pair of depending pins,one for each of its ends, the pins of the holder of one size beingspaced apart a distance greater than those of the holder of the othersize, said base having two series of pin receiving holes, one for eachholder, said series including holes on opposite edges with correspondingholes of each series being transversely alined and the holes of eachserios on each side being spaced from each other the distance requiredby the width of the frame member for the desired spacing of the rows,and means to mask the margins of the framed film and the space betweeneach of its negatives to provide a white frame for each of the picturesprinted on said sheet, said means including a transparent filmcontacting member provided with portions effecting at least the maskingof said spaces and a pressure member in engagement with the margins ofsaid transparent member, said pressure member being in the form of asecond frame within said first frame and vertically mov* able relativethereto, and means to connect said pressure member to' said base topress said film against said sheet.

9. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing the negativesof a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographic paperdimensioned to permit rows of prints of that length to be printedsuccessively thereon, a base on whose upper surface the sheet rests, afilm holder including a first frame member disposed o'n said sheet inengagement with the edges of the film and dimensioned to expose withinit said length of film, the sides of said frame having grooves extendingfrom end to end thereof to receive masking sheets to overlie ex.- posedportions of said photographic sheet, and means to mask the margins ofthe framed film and the space between each of its negatives to provide awhite frame for each of the pictures printed on said sheet, said meansin cluding a transparent film contacting member provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces and a pressure member inengagement with the margins of said transparent member, said pressuremember being in the form of a second frame within said first frame andvertically movable relative thereto, and means to connect said pressuremember to said base to press said film against said sheet.

10. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing thenegatives of a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographicpaper dimensioned to permit rows of prints of that length to be printedthereon, a -base on whose upper surface the sheet rests, a film holderincluding a first frame member disposed on said sheet -in engagementwith the edges of the film and dimensioned to expose within it saidlength of film, the inner edge of said frame having a marginal rabbet,and means to mask the margins of the framed film and the space `betweeneach of its negatives to provide a white frame for each of the picturesprinted on said sheet, said means including a transparent filmcontacting member provided with portions effecting at least the maskingof said spaces and a pressure member including a second `frame entrantof said frame and in engagement with the margins of said transparentmember, and a shouldered part cooperating with said rabbet to block thepassage of light between said frames, said pressure member being in theform of a second frame within said first frame and vertically movablerelative thereto, and means to connect said pressure member to said baseto press said film against said sheet.

l1. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing thenegatives of a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographicpaper `dimensioned to permit a r'ow of prints of that length to beprinted simultaneously thereon, a base on whose upper surface the sheetrests, a film holder including a first frame member on said sheet inwhich said film is marginally engaged, and means to mask the margins ofthe framed film and the space between each of its negatives to provide awhite `frame for each of the pictures printed on said sheet, said meansincluding a transparent film contacting member provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces, and a pressure memberincluding a second `frame in engagement with the margins of saidtransparent member, said pressure member being vertically movablerelative to said first frame, means to connect said pressure member tosaid base to press said film against said sheet, and a masking elementremovably supported by said pressure member dimensioned and disposed toblock the light from a subjacent negative.

12. In apparatus for use in simultaneously contact printing thenegatives of a predetermined length of film on a sheet of photographicpaper dimensioned to permit a row of prints of that length to be printedsimultaneously thereon, a base on whose upper surface the sheet rests, afilm holder including a first frame member on said sheet in which saidfilm is marginally engaged, and means to mask the margins of the `framedfilm and the space between each of its negatives to provide a Whiteframe for each of the pictures printed on said sheet, said meansincluding a transparent film contacting member provided with portionseffecting at least the masking of said spaces, and a pressure memberincluding a second frame in engagement with the margins of saidtransparent member and marginal rabbets, said pressure member beingvertically movable relative to said first frame, means to connect saidpressure member to said base to press said film against said sheet, anda masking element removably supported by said pressure memberdimensioned and disposed to block lthe light from a subjacent negative,said element including side flanges engageable with said rabbets andhaving its ends inclined upwardly towards each other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10Wehrli Oct. 23, 1923 Kalmanovitch Jan. 19, 1926 Bornmann Jan. 12, 1932Marks Nov. 24, 1936 Lewis Apr. 3, 1937 Kadel et al. May 13, 1941 NeuJuly 21, 1942 Grover Nov. 9, 1948 Kessler June 21, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTSGreat Britain of 1913 Germany Nov. 20,

